Ken P's Today in History
January 5

Copyright © 2006-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
URL: http://kpolsson.com/today/
(this URL will automatically re-direct to the file containing a single day's events)

What happened in history on this day: January 5?

Since 1995, I have been collecting information on a variety of topics, creating several timelines of history. Here you will find specific events from those databases for this day, on the topics of personal computers, video games, the Walt Disney Company, Chevrolet Corvettes, A&W Root Beer, Sweden, and Canadian coins.

On January 5 in ...

Personal computer history:

  • 1984 - Netherlands Antilles issues a 45-cent postage stamp depicting a personal computer in making newspapers.
  • 1985 - The Winter Consumer Electronics Show is held in Las Vegas, Nevada, over two days.
  • 1985 - At the Winter CES, Commodore International unveils the Commodore 128 Personal Computer. It functions as three computers in one: a complete Commodore 64, a CP/M mode, and a new 128 kB mode. It features a 8502 processor, Z80 processor, 128 kB RAM, and ROM cartridge port. Price is US$300.
  • 1985 - At the Winter CES, Commodore shows the Commodore LCD laptop computer. It features built-in software, modem, and flip-top screen.
  • 1985 - At the Winter CES, Commodore International announces the 1571 Disk Drive, for the Commodore 128. It has a dual-sided capacity of 340 kB on double-density 5.25-inch diskettes.
  • 1985 - At the Winter CES, Atari introduces the Atari 65XE computer, with 65xx processor and 64 kB RAM. It is to replace the Atari 800 XL. Price is US$120.
  • 1985 - At the Winter CES, Atari introduces the Atari 65XEM. It is an Atari 65XE with a built-in eight-voice AMY music synthesizer chip. Price is about US$150.
  • 1985 - At the Winter CES, Atari introduces the Atari 65XEP. It is like the Atari 65XE but portable, with a built-in monitor and 3.5-inch disk drive.
  • 1985 - At the Winter CES, Atari introduces the Atari 130XE. It is an Atari 65XE with 128 kB RAM. Price is US$140.
  • 1985 - At the Winter CES, Atari introduces the Atari 130ST computer. It features 128 kB RAM, 192 kB ROM including Digital Research's GEM operating system, 640x400 monochrome or 320x200 16-color graphics from a palette of 512 colors, 32 kB screen RAM, MIDI interface, and mouse. Price is US$399.
  • 1985 - At the Winter CES, Atari introduces the Atari 260ST computer. It features 256kB RAM. Price is US$499.
  • 1985 - At the Winter CES, Atari introduces the Atari 520ST computer. It features 512 kB RAM, 192 kB ROM including Digital Research's GEM operating system, 640x400 monochrome or 320x200 16-color graphics from a palette of 512 colors, 32 kB screen RAM, MIDI interface, and mouse. Price is US$599.
  • 1994 - Apple Computer announces eWorld, an online service for Apple tech support and a virtual shopping mall. It is to replace AppleLink.
  • 1999 - At Macworld Expo, Steve Jobs announces the release of new iMac computers in five bright colors. Each includes 266 MHz PowerPC G3 processor, 32 MB RAM, 15-inch monitor, and 6 GB hard drive. Price is US$1199.
  • 1999 - At the Macworld Expo, Apple Computer introduces new Power Mac G3 series computers. They feature two-tone blue/white polycarbonate translucent cases with a handle on each corner, keyboard, mouse, two USB ports, two FireWire ports, 300 to 400 MHz PowerPC G3 processor, 100 MHz system bus, up to 1 GB RAM, ATI Rage 128 graphics card, 4 PCI slots, 10/100BaseT Ethernet, hard drive, CD or DVD drive. Prices start at US$1599-2999.
  • 1999 - At the Macworld Expo, Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 4.5 for Macintosh.
  • 2000 - At the Macworld Expo, Apple Computer publicly demonstrates Mac OS X for the first time.
  • 2000 - At the Macworld Expo, Steve Jobs announces that he is accepting the position as full-time CEO of Apple Computer.
  • 2000 - At the Consumer Electronics Show, Bill Gates announces a new version of Windows CE called Pocket PC.
  • 2004 - Intel releases the 800 MHz, 1.2 GHz, and 1.3 GHz Celeron M processors. They feature 512 kB level 2 cache. The 800 MHz version runs on 1.004 volts, and uses 7 watts of power. The 1.2 and 1.3 GHz versions run on 1.356 volts and use 24.5 watts. Prices are US$161 (800 MHz), US$107 (1.2 GHz), US$134 (1.3 GHz) in 1000-unit quantities.

Walt Disney Company history:

  • 1932 - Disney completes the Silly Symphony film The Bird Store.
  • 1935 - The Silly Symphony film The Tortoise and the Hare is released to theaters.
  • 1945 - The Goofy film Tiger Trouble is released to theaters.
  • 1951 - The Goofy film Lion Down is released.
  • 1955 - The ABC TV network airs the Disneyland TV show, featuring the film Treasure Island, part one.
  • 1964 - The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, featuring The Ballad of Hector, the Stowaway Dog, part one: Where the Heck is Hector?.
  • 1969 - The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Solomon, the Sea Turtle. The film is based on the book The Windward Road by Archie Carr.
  • 1975 - The Flight to the Moon attraction at Disneyland closes.
  • 1986 - The Biscuit Barrel shop in the United Kingdom pavilion in World Showcase in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World closes.
  • 1986 - The Country Manor shop opens in the United Kingdom pavilion in World Showcase in EPCOT Center in Walt Disney World. Former name was Biscuit Barrel.
  • 1997 - The Dalmatian Celebration at Disneyland closes.
  • 1998 - The Take Flight attraction in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World closes.
  • 1998 - The CBS TV network debuts the Style and Substance TV show.
  • 1999 - Disney releases the film The Rescuers on videocassette.
  • 1999 - Touchstone Home Video releases the film Armageddon on videocassette and DVD.
  • 2003 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
    • Someone says "Dead Poets Society has destroyed a generation of educators.".
    • A videotape shows the Robin Williams character of the Disney film using humor in the classroom.
    • A child says the family gets to go to Florida. The dad asks if they're going to Disney World.
    • A scene shows the marquee of "EPCOT CENTER" with a sign under reading "WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS BOOKED".
    • When flying a plane over the site, the dad says "It's even boring to fly over it.".
    • At the end, a character jumps over a wall into what he calls "Disney World", in which a Disney-style castle can be seen.
    • He frets that a churro costs $14, but pays anyway.
    Disney theme park references:
    • The Future Sphere (Spaceship Earth),
    • Transportation Pavilion (World of Motion Pavilion),
    • Honey, I Squirted Goo on the Audience! (Honey, I Shrunk the Audience),
    • Great Moments with Mr. Eisner (Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln),
    • The Home of Tomorrow (Monsanto House of the Future),
    • a restaurant with menu items from around the world,
    • fireworks and laser light show over a lake (Illuminations, World Showcase).

  • 2005 - The Atlantic Wear & Wardrobe Emporium Shop in the Beach Club Resort at Walt Disney World closes.
  • 2012 - The Blue Ribbon Bakery shop in Disneyland closes.

Chevrolet Corvette history:

  • 1991 - In Los Angeles, California, the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show is held, over nine days. Callaway Cars unveils the Callaway Speedster, based on a Corvette convertible, with a 5.7-litre 405 or 450-hp TwinTurbo engine. Base price is US$107,000; production will be limited to 50 cars.
  • 2004 - Global Star releases the Corvette video game for the PlayStation 2 video game system in the US. Price is US$19.99.

World War II history:

  • 1942 - In Canada, Cabinet accepts the proposal for "Big Army", with additional divisions for overseas duty, through either voluntary enlistment or conscription.
  • 1942 - US President Franklin Roosevelt gives a special citation to Marine group VMF-211 that had defended Wake Island with "devotion to duty and splendid conduct."
  • 1942 - In North Africa, German forces fall back to El Agheila.
  • 1945 - British Bomber Command makes an air raid against rail yards at Ludwigshafen, Germany.
  • 1945 - (evening) 659 British bombers attack Hanover, Germany, inflicting great damage. 31 planes are shot down.
  • 1946 - In Manila, Phillipines, a US Military Commissions court convicts Japanese Lieutenant Colonel Seiichi Ohta of war crimes, sentencing him to death by hanging. Ohta was commander of the Japanese secret police in Manila during the occupation, and was known as "the bloody butcher of Fort Santiago".
  • 1946 - A Soviet court in Leningrad convicts eleven German soldiers of German-Fascist atrocities, sentencing eight to death on the gallows, another two to twenty years hard labor, and another one to fifteen years.
  • 1946 - The US resumes diplomatic relationships with Siam.

Video game history:

  • 1985 - At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nintendo first shows the Family Computer from Japan with label Advanced Video System. The system is demonstrated with computer keyboard, music keyboard, and 25 games. No dealers take orders for the system.
  • 1989 - Nintendo countersues Atari Games, charging fraudulent inducement of their licensing agreement, and making and selling unauthorized cartridges.
  • 1994 - Sanyo Electric announces it will manufacture 3DO Interactive Multiplayer video game systems.
  • 2003 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A video arcade is shown at a large theme park. Some games are "PONG 3000", "LARRY THE LOOTER", "SHARK BAIT", "Halloween Hit and Run" and "TIME WASTER".
  • 2006 - In Las Vegas, Nevada, the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show is held, over four days. Microsoft announces that later in the year it will release an add-on HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360 for movie viewing.
  • 2010 - Sega releases the Bayonetta video game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in the USA.

Swedish history:

  • 1388 - Executors of Bo Jonsson's estate give two castles in Västergötland to Margareta of Norway.
  • 1997 - Prince Bertil dies, in Stockholm, at age 84.

Canadian coin history:

  • 1999 - The Royal Canadian Mint unveils designs for all twelve 1999 25-cent coins. A Souvenir Set in nickel is available for $24.95.

USA coin history:

  • 1909 - The Denver Mint begins striking 1909-dated double eagles.
  • 1915 - The House of Representatives passes a bill for gold and silver coins for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, to be $50, $2.50, $1 gold, and 50-cent silver.
  • 2006 - Heritage auctions a 1817/4 half dollar for US$253,000.
  • 2009 - Stack's conducts its Orlando Sale auction in Orlando, Florida.
    • US 1793 Flowing Hair, Wreath, Strawberry Leaf cent, one of four known, finest known, F-12 NGC: US$862,500;
    • US 1873-CC Seated Liberty, No Arrows quarter dollar, MS-63 PCGS: US$431,250.

  • 2011 - (to January 9) In Tampa, Florida, Heritage Numismatic Auctions conducts coin auctions at the FUN convention. Some highlights:
    • USA 1907 Indian Head, Rolled Edge gold $10, PR-67 NGC: $2,185,000;
    • USA 1909-O Indian Head gold $5, MS-66 PCGS: $690,000;
    • USA 1795 Liberty Cap, Reeded Edge cent, Fine Details NGC: $431,250;
    • USA 1804 Draped Bust 25-cent, MS-65 NGC: $345,000;
    • USA 1799 Draped Bust dollar, MS-66 PCGS: $299,000;
    • USA 1795 Capped Bust, Small Eagle gold $5, MS-65 Prooflike NGC: $345,000;
    • USA 1933 Indian Head $10, MS-65 NGC: $359,375;
    • USA 1854-O Coronet gold $20, AU-55 PCGS: $460,000;
    • USA 1795 Capped Bust, Small Eagle gold $10, 13 leaves, MS-64 NGC: $322,000.

Sports history:

  • 1895 - Victor Trumper makes first-class cricket debut for New South Wales at age 17 years 64 days.
  • 1912 - First National Hockey Association game (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada).
  • 1925 - French Baseball Federation awards silver medals to John McGraw, Charlie Comiskey, and Hugh Jennings.
  • 1927 - Judge Landis begins 3-day public hearing on charges that four games played between Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers in 1917 had been thrown to Chicago.
  • 1934 - Fenway Park catches fire for second time (May 8th 1926 also).
  • 1934 - National and American baseball leagues select a uniform ball.
  • 1937 - Fingleton and Donald Bradman make record stand of 346 for 6th wicket.
  • 1951 - Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA Ponte Vedra Beach Women's Golf Open.
  • 1957 - Brooklyn Dodgers' Jackie Robinson retires rather than be traded to New York Giants.
  • 1960 - Continental League, a proposed third major baseball league, gets an assurance of congressional support from New York Senator Kenneth Keating.
  • 1963 - San Diego Chargers beat Boston Patriots 51-10 in AFL championship game.
  • 1964 - San Diego Chargers win AFL-championship.
  • 1971 - First one-day international, Australia versus England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
  • 1971 - Harlem Globetrotters lose 100-99 to New Jersey Reds, ending 2,495-game win streak.
  • 1971 - Sonny Liston, American World Champ heavyweight boxer (1962-64), found dead at age 36.
  • 1972 - Largest crowd at Cleveland Arena (Cleveland Cavaliers versus Los Angeles Lakers-11,178).
  • 1976 - Greg Chappell scores 182* at Sydney Cricket Ground against West Indies.
  • 1984 - Greg Chappell scores 182 in his last Test innings.
  • 1984 - Adrian Dantly (Utah Jazz), ties NBA record of 28 free throws.
  • 1989 - Major League Baseball signs US$400 million with ESPN, to show 175 games in 1990.
  • 1990 - J Donald Crump appointed 8th Commissioner of Canadian Football League.
  • 1991 - Edwin Jongejans of Netherlands wins 1-metre springboard diving title.
  • 1991 - Kevin Bradshaw of US International scores NCAA Division 1 record 72 points.
  • 1992 - Ravi Shastri scores 206 at Sydney Cricket Ground before being Warne's first cricket Test wicket.
  • 1993 - Brian Lara completes 277 versus Australia at cricket Sydney Cricket Ground.
  • 1993 - Reggie Jackson is elected to Baseball Hall of Fame.
  • 1994 - Aleksandr Popov swims world record 100m free style (47.82).
  • 1994 - Yat Weiju swims world record 100m butterfly stroke (58.71).
  • 1996 - Miami Dolphins' coach Don Shula announces his retirement.
  • 1996 - Muralitharan no-balled for throwing in ODI versus West Indies at the Gabba.
  • 2009 - Canada beats Sweden 5-1 to win gold in the world junior hockey championships. This is Canada's fifth straight championship, and its 15th gold, matching Russia/Soviet Union for the all-time lead.
  • 2009 - Free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley reaches terms on a three-year, US$30 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.
  • 2010 - At the World Junior Hockey final in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, team USA beats team Canada 6-5 in overtime.
  • 2022 - At PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, NHL regular season game: Pittsburgh Penguins beats Saint Louis Blues by score 5-3.
  • 2022 - At Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, NHL regular season game: Toronto Maple Leafs beats Edmonton Oilers by score 4-2.

Space exploration history:

  • 1905 - Charles Perrine announces discovery of Jupiter's 7th satellite, Elara.
  • 1969 - USSR Venera 5 launched for first successful planet landing (Venus).
  • 1972 - US President Richard Nixon signs a bill for NASA to begin research on manned shuttle.

Extreme weather history:

  • 1709 - Sudden extreme cold kills 1000s of Europeans.
  • 1974 - In Vanda Station, Scott Coast, an Antarctican record hot temperature of 59 degrees F is recorded.
  • 1998 - Ice storm knocks out electricity in Québec and Ontario, Canada.

USA history:

  • 1776 - Assembly of New Hampshire adopts its first state constitution.
  • 1781 - British naval expedition led by Benedict Arnold burns Richmond, Virginia, USA.
  • 1804 - Ohio legislature passes first laws restricting free blacks movement.
  • 1834 - Kiowa Indians record this as the night the stars fell.
  • 1843 - In Marked Tree, Arkansas, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurs. Strongest to occur in the region since the 1811-12 sequence. Damage severe at Memphis, Tennessee; the earth sinks in places near New Madrid, Missouri.
  • 1861 - 250 Federal troops are sent from New York to Fort Sumter.
  • 1861 - Alabama troops seize Forts Morgan and Gaines at Mobile Bay.
  • 1875 - President Ulysses Grant sends federal troops to Vicksburg, Mississippi.
  • 1887 - First US school of librarianship opens at Columbia University.
  • 1903 - San Francisco-Hawaii telegraph cable opens for public use.
  • 1904 - -34 degrees F (-36.7 degrees C), River Vale, New Jersey (state record low).
  • 1904 - -42 degrees F (-41.1 degrees C), Smethport, Pennsylvania (state record low).
  • 1905 - US National Association of Audubon Society incorporates.
  • 1914 - James Cox of Ford Motor Company announces wages will jump from $2.40/9-hour day to $5.00/8-hour day.
  • 1933 - Construction begins on the Golden Gate Bridge between San Francisco and Marin County, California. Workers begin excavating for the structure's anchorages.
  • 1934 - Fenway Park catches fire for second time (May 8th 1926 also).
  • 1937 - Only unicameral state legislature in US opens first session (Nebraska).
  • 1938 - US Justice George Sutherland retires from the US Supreme Court at age 75.
  • 1939 - Felix Frankfurter is appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Frankfurter had been born in Vienna, Austria and immigrated to the U.S. with his family at age 12.
  • 1940 - US Federal Communications Commission hears first transmission of FM radio with clear, static-free signal.
  • 1943 - William H Hastie, civilian aide to secretary of war, resigns to protest segregation in armed forces.
  • 1946 - The US resumes diplomatic relationships with Siam.
  • 1949 - US President Harry S Truman labels his administration the "Fair Deal".
  • 1955 - Representative Charles Bennett of Florida introduces legislation in the House of Representatives to require "In God We Trust" to appear on all paper money.
  • 1957 - US President Dwight Eisenhower asks Congress to send troops to the Middle East.
  • 1961 - US breaks diplomatic relations with Cuba.
  • 1968 - Dr Benjamin Spock indicted for conspiring to violate draft law.
  • 1972 - US President Richard Nixon signs a bill for NASA to begin research on manned shuttle.
  • 1975 - Charlie Smalls' play The Wiz opens at the Majestic Theater in New York City, New York for 1672 performances.
  • 1982 - Arkansas judge rules against obligatory teaching of creation.
  • 1985 - At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show, Commodore International unveils the Commodore 128 Personal Computer. It functions as three computers in one: a complete Commodore 64, a CP/M mode, and a new 128 kB mode. It features a 8502 processor, Z80 processor, 128 kB RAM, and ROM cartridge port. Price is US$300.
  • 1985 - At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show, Atari introduces the Atari 520ST computer. It features 512 kB RAM, 192 kB ROM including Digital Research's GEM operating system, 640x400 monochrome or 320x200 16-color graphics from a palette of 512 colors, 32 kB screen RAM, MIDI interface, and mouse. Price is US$599.
  • 1985 - At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nintendo first shows the Nintendo Entertainment System in the US.
  • 1987 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan undergoes prostate surgery, causing speculation about his physical fitness to continue in office.
  • 1993 - In the USA, the state of Washington executes Westley Allan Dodd by hanging (the first legal hanging in America since 1965).
  • 2002 - Charles Bishop, a 15 year-old student pilot, crashes a light aircraft into a Tampa, Florida building.
  • 2009 - The new US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, opens. The compound is one of the biggest and most expensive embassies the US has ever built, where about 1,200 staff will live and work.
  • 2011 - (to January 9) In Tampa, Florida, Heritage Numismatic Auctions conducts coin auctions at the FUN convention. Some highlights:
    • USA 1907 Indian Head, Rolled Edge gold $10, PR-67 NGC: $2,185,000;
    • USA 1909-O Indian Head gold $5, MS-66 PCGS: $690,000.

  • 2021 - Two US Senate runoff elections in Georgia are won by Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. Their victories give control of the US Senate to Democrats.

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Copyright © 2006-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
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